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Houston, Texas (April 17, 2014) – USF was on the brink of a marquee win leading in the eighth inning but ultimately dropped a 3-2 ballgame to No. 12 Houston Thursday night in an American Athletic Conference showdown at Cougar Field.

The Bulls record now stands at 21-16 on the year and 7-6 in The American while Houston improves to 28-9 overall and 5-5 in conference action.

“I am so proud of our guys,” said head coach Lelo Prado.  “We should have won that baseball game. The guys played their hearts out and Jimmy Herget pitched his tail off.”

“An umpire decided the outcome of the game which should not happen in college baseball.  I feel bad for my kids because they out-played them and should have left here with a win tonight.”

Kyle Teaf (Tallahassee) wasted no time getting things going for USF leading the game off with a single to centerfield.  A mishandle in the outfield allowed him to take second on the play.  A ground out advanced the junior to third base before Luke Maglich (Sarasota) drove a ball to the centerfield warning track allowing Teaf to score the game's first run.

Houston tied the game at 1-1 in the second inning with a Jordan Stading single up the middle that plated Justin Montemayor. 

The Bulls wasted no time answering right back in the third inning.  USF loaded the bases with one out and got a fielder's choice ground out which pushed across Nik Alfonso (Tampa) for a 2-1 advantage.

Herget (Tampa) made the lead stand through the next five innings with the aid of several key defensive plays including a diving catch by Maglich in centerfield, a barehanded throw on the run by Alfonso and Daniel Portales (Tampa) throwing out a runner at home plate. All three plays were the final out in their respective inning.

USF had a chance to add to their lead in every inning stranding at least one runner on base from the third inning through the eighth.  A running grab by Houston's shortstop into shallow centerfield kept a run off the board in the sixth while the Bulls had the bases loaded in the seventh but couldn't tack on another run.

Kyle Survance began the eighth inning with a single up the middle for Houston.  He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt which was followed by a walk to Casey Grayson.  A foul out to the catcher was the second out of the inning before a full count single to center plated the game-tying run. 

After a pitching change for USF, Montemayor singled in the game-winning run for the Cougars.

Herget was struck with the hard luck loss falling to 5-5 on the year.  He allowed three runs on 10 hits in 7.2 innings of work while striking out three.  Teaf led the offensive picking up three of the team's eight hits.  Alfonso also had a multi-hit performance going 2-for-4.  Maglich drove in both runs for USF.

Jared Robinson picked up the win for Houston tossing 1.1 innings of shutout ball.  Chase Wellbrock earned his eighth save of the year working a perfect ninth.  Aaron Garza started the ballgame going 6.2 innings allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits.  Pyeatt and Montemayor had two hits apiece.

USF will regroup and hit the diamond again tomorrow night as they look to even the series.  First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Cougar Field.